However, Song Lianzhou didn’t matter at all. Once he found a place where no one else was around to live in seclusion later on, he would have no further ties with the mortal world.
The only reason he was traveling alongside him now was simply because Song Lianzhou happened to be investigating the case of the missing maidens in Qishan; and the only reason he always wanted to tease him was just because he happened to be very cute.
Yes, that must be it.
“It’s only the hour of Chen…” Song Lianzhou’s heart leaped into his throat before dropping back down. After a few seconds of brain activity, he finally realized that Ye Xisheng was teasing him, angering him enough to reach out and try to pinch his cheek. “You rascal Ye Xisheng, how dare you play tricks on your Senior Brother… And you’re still trying to dodge!!”
“I was wrong, I was wrong.” Ye Xisheng caught his hand, smiling as he pleaded for mercy. “I just ordered some hot water, and it should be delivered up shortly. Senior Brother can go wash up first. Judging by the commotion next door, Feiyi and Qingmiao should be up as well.”
That’s right, matters of importance came first.
Just at that moment, the inn’s waiter knocked on the door and brought in a basin of hot water. Remembering what happened last night, Song Lianzhou quickly called out to stop the waiter and said rather apologetically, “I’m truly sorry, I didn’t mean to break your inn’s window. For some reason, a group of people suddenly rushed in last night and tried to kill me on sight they had zero manners…”
“You are being far too polite, honored guest,” the waiter waved his hands repeatedly. “Running an inn, what kind of massive storms haven’t we seen? Assassinations every three days and blood feuds every five days we’re long since used to it.”
“Not to mention that Master Ye is extremely generous; the silver he gave is enough to buy that room outright. So please rest easy, we’ll have someone come by to repair it today and reinforce the surrounding area, guaranteeing that you’ll be living comfortably.”
“This…” Song Lianzhou was taken aback. “There’s really no need to go to such lengths…”
“We might still be staying here when we return from investigating the case.” Ye Xisheng blinked at him and tossed another money pouch to the waiter. “Extend these four rooms for another half a month first, and have them cleaned regularly during that time. You don’t need to return the change.”
“Alright, alright, understood. I’ll go handle it right away.”
Weighing the pouch in his hand after catching it, the waiter beamed from ear to ear and bowed out.
Song Lianzhou, who had witnessed the entire transaction from start to finish, stood frozen in place, frantically calling out to the system in his mind: What is going on here? Didn’t you say the male lead in the early stages is a penniless little cabbage with no money and no resources?!
Tell me, who is this God of Wealth standing right in front of me right now?!
Flipping frantically through the original text in his sea of consciousness until his short hands were practically spitting sparks, the system replied: I’ve been wronged, Host dearest! That’s literally how it’s written in the book, black and white—look!
Song Lianzhou scanned his mental realm: Sure enough, it was.
That was truly bizarre. He always felt like something felt a bit different.
Over on the other side, as Ye Xisheng watched the waiter close the door upon leaving, his sleeve was suddenly tugged. Song Lianzhou stared at him with an incredulous look in his eyes: “Where on earth did you get so much money?”
The more Ye Xisheng looked at that expression of his, the cutier he found it. He curved his lips into a faint smile and said, “I lifted it from Senior Brother.”
In an instinctive reflex, Song Lianzhou patted his own money pouch, and upon finding it still sitting safely at his waist, he glared right back fiercely. “Talk properly.”
“I was just putting on a big front. That was literally my entire net worth.” Ye Xisheng let his shoulders droop and sidled up closer to Song Lianzhou. “From here on out, I’m completely at the mercy of Senior Brother.”
Suspiciously eyeing him, Song Lianzhou saw that he indeed wore an honest expression and ultimately chose to believe him.
Then he untied the pouch from his waist and handed it over. “Here, take this to use for emergencies first.”
Ye Xisheng: ……
Never had Ye Xisheng expected that he would actually believe him. For a moment, he was holding back his laughter so hard that his hands were trembling, while still trying to maintain a straight face as he reached out to take the pouch. “Th-thank you, Senior Brother.”
“?” Song Lianzhou looked at him with complete bafflement.
“Senior Brother, let’s head downstairs, come on down.” Fearing that he wouldn’t be able to keep up his composure for even a few more seconds, Ye Xisheng hurriedly nudged Song Lianzhou toward the door.
When the two of them stepped outside, the door to the adjacent room swung open as well, and Feiyi walked out rubbing her sleep-heavy eyes. “Good morning, Senior Brother… Ah!!”
As if she had just seen a ghost, Feiyi stood rooted to the spot and petrified for two whole seconds before managing to ask with difficulty: “…… The two of you came out of the very same doorway?”
Song Lianzhou: “Mhm.”
The look Feiyi gave them suggested she wanted to swallow them whole: “You stayed in the exact same room last night??”
Ye Xisheng: “Mhm.”
Feiyi completely petrified, standing frozen in place at a total loss: Y-y-y-y-you guys…… Things had progressed that fast?!
Qingmiao drifted past the three of them like a ghost, dropping a single, breezy sentence: “So ignorant of the world.”
Feiyi: .?
“Hey, what on earth are you being so dismissive about? What do you mean I’m ignorant? Is this even a matter of being worldly or not? And as if you’re so worldly! Oh, if you’ve seen this happen before then I suppose you really are worldly…”
“Hold on,” Song Lianzhou massaged his temples. “Things aren’t what you guys are imagining… Let’s go down and have breakfast first, and I’ll explain to you later.”
“Oh, right.” Feiyi walked down the stairs with her left foot and left arm moving in sync.
Song Lianzhou: “Amongst others…”
Downstairs, the waiter had already served steamed buns, flatbreads, and congee for the four of them. While they ate, Song Lianzhou recounted how he had been abducted by Yuling Chun last night and subsequently purchased some intelligence.
As she listened, Feiyi’s spoon hit the bottom of her bowl with a sharp clack. “Is this Yuling Chun a total pervert?”
Song Lianzhou gazed at her with admiration. “What my junior martial sister says is exceptionally pleasing to the ear.”
Ye Xisheng nodded in agreement. “Junior Sister’s words are truly spot-on.”
Feiyi: “…” Why are the two of them finishing each other’s sentences now.
Frowning, she changed the subject. “Senior Brother, since we don’t know what that Fanggu Village is sacrificing to, why don’t we just storm up Qishan, capture everyone, and interrogate them? Who cares about any open or hidden conspiracies!”
“We cannot. Leaving aside whether we can even capture all of them, doing so would easily alert the enemy.”
Qingmiao let out a cold snort. “And have you thought about what would happen if they claimed we forced confessions out of them through torture? We wouldn’t even be able to clear our names.”
Pushing her bowl of congee away, Feiyi looked displeased. “Then what are we supposed to do?!”